Shedding mechanism for looms



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

V. BOYLE. SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

No. 410,718. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

N. PETERS. Phomiithugmphnr, wasmn w, v C.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

V. BOYLE. SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

No. 410,718. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

wilwmsw M PETERS Phqmmim n ner. Washingmn. D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet 3. V. ROYLE.

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

No. 410,718. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

um umwm V Wifvesses. 62% 14% 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

V. BOYLE. SHEDDING MEGHANISM FOR LOOMS.

.718. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

N. FETUS, Pmq-mm hw. wiihinglunv D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON BOYLE, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,718, dated September 10, 1889.

Application filed February 10, 1887. Serial No. 227,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VERNON ROYLE, of Paterson, in the county of Passa-ic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shedding Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the shedding attachment which is commonly called the dobby, and which may be arranged above a loom for shifting the harness, such mechanism comprising lifting-wires, to which the leaves of the harness are attached or from which they are suspended, and pivoted bars which have imparted to them a swinging motion upward and downward, and which lift the wires by engaging with hooks thereon. Each one of the lifting-wires passes through an eye in a horizontally-W0rking needle, and a cylinder, as it is commonly called, over which a chain of cards passes, is mounted in a swinging frame, and is by said frame moved against the ends of the series of needles.

Certain features of myinvention consist in a frame of novel construction, which serves to support the several parts of the shedding mechanism and to properly guide the needles.

My invention also consists in the combination, with the wires, the needles, the rocking bars, and the cylinder, of a cylind er-frame having upright arms fulcrumed at the one end and connected by a stretcher or brace which is inclined to the perpendicular, in order to properly direct the cards, and operating mechanism for the several parts.

The invention also consists in a novel combination of parts, which includes rocking bars which have fulcrum-holes at diiferent points in their length, so that while operated by the same mechanism their length of stroke maybe increased or diminished.

My invention also consists in other combinations of parts, including a spring interposed between the cylinder and the mechanism which operates its frame, and arranged in such manner that the working or operative movement of the cylinder is made by an elastic or yielding force. In apparatus of this character the perforated cards are some times brought by the cylinder against the ends of the needles before the hooks on the lifting-wires are freed from the upper bar or knife, and under such circumstances a considerable resistance is opposed to the movement of the needles by the card. When the operative or working movement of the cylinder is made by an elastic or yielding force, as through a spring, the spring will yield as the cylinder brings the card against the ends of the needles, and as soon as the knife passes out of the reach of the hooks on the liftingwires the spring acts by its resilience to throw the needles quickly in order to move the lifting-wires out of reach of the knife. In carrying out this part of my invention I may employ a rock-shaft for the cylinderframe, on which the arms of the frame may rock slightly, and which is provided itself with a rigid arm, and between this arm on the rock-shaft and the cylinder-frame I interpose a spring for the purpose above de scribed.

The invention also consists in another combination of parts, including a rod of novel construction, through which motion is imparted to the cylinder-frame from the upper rocking bar. In attachments of the kind to which my invention relates a change in the pattern is often produced by shifting the cylinder endwise, and the desired effect has been secured both by shifting the cylinder endwise in its frame and by shifting the cylinderframe in a direction lengthwise of the cylinder, the frame, of course, carrying the cylinder with it. This shifting of the cylinder endwise to change the operation has commonly been performed by hand, and one of the most important features of my invention is to provide means whereby this shifting of the cylinder will be performed automatically.

The invention to this end also consists in novel combinations of parts, which include a change-wire and needle corresponding to the lifting-wires and needles, and a cam and connections, substantially as hereinafter described, through which the ehange-wire acts when lifted to shift the cylinder lengthwise. In this combination the cylinder is preferably fitted to bearings which hold it against lengthwise movement in its frame, and by the action of the change-wire the whole frame, with the cylinder in it, is moved in a direction 1ength wise of the cylinder.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is tion of the rock-shaft for the cylinder-frame and a cam-wheel forming a part of the mechanism, through which the change-wire acts to shift the frame in a direction lengthwise of the cylinder. Fig. 4 is a plan of a portion of the base-piece of the frame and cams or camlike projections upon which the cam-wheel acts to shift the cylinder-frame. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the machineon the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical section upon about the plane of the dotted line w m, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the cylinder-frame with the cylinder removed; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of said frame upon the lines indicated, respectively, by the dotted lines y y and z 2, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is aperspective View upon a larger scale, showing a portion of an upright standard or post which is comprised in the frame and the upper guiding-frame which supports the needles. Fig. 11 is a plan of the base-plate of the machine. Fig. 12 is a section thereof on the plane of the dotted line 5 s, as Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a sectional View on the dotted line 25 t, Fig. 11. Fig. 14 represents an arm and portions of the rocking bars which are pivoted thereto, the fulcrum-points of the bars in this figure being different from Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 15 is a side view of the base-piece and part of the mechanism for shifting the cylinder-frame and cylinder, including a sectional view of a portion of the cylinder-frame. Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of the base-piece and mechanism for shifting the cylinder-frame, looking in the opposite direction from the point of view in Fig. 15. Fig. 17.is a plan of a keeper, whereby the cam-wheel forming a part of the mechanism for shifting the cylinder-frame is prevented from turning accidentally. Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of a modified form of cam-wheel and cams for shifting the cylinder-frame. Fig. 20 represents a plan of the cams to be employed in connection with the wheel shown in Figs. 18 and 19. plan of a cam-wheel of still another slightly- 'modified form; and Fig. 22 is a plan of the cam which is employed in connection with the wheel shown in Fig. 21.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a base-plate or base-piece which supports the remaining portions of the frame, and Bis an upright or standard erected thereon near one end, and which preferablyis made in the form of a hollow column. As here shown, this hollow column has a substantially rectangular transverse section. At the back of the hollow column Bis formed an integral arm B, to which are fulcrumed an upper bar or knife 0 and a lower bar or grid 0. These bars 0 C are pivoted or ful- Fig. 21 is a.

crumed at their ends to the arm B, and in this exampleof my invention the said arm B and the rocking bars 0 O are formed with double sets of holes 0 a, through either of which bolts may be inserted for pivoting the bars at different points in their length. I have here shown only two holes in each .bar; but it is obvious that more might be employed. When the bolts or pins 0 whereby the rocking bars 0 G are fulcrumed, are inserted through the eyes or holes 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the operative ends of the bars will have alonger stroke or greater range of movement than they will'receive if the pins are inserted through the holes 0, as shown in Fig-14.

The mechanism for operating the rocking bars 0 O is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. b designates a bush or sleeve, which is fitted in bearings b in the hollow post- B, and has, as here shown, a rectangular bore, in which is fitted a rectangular shaft 0 Upon the exterior of the sleeve or bush 1) is secured a hub b and arms or lugs which are upon this hub are connected by links I) with the upper and lower bars 0 C. A rocking motion may be imparted to the rectangular shaft 0 from a crank upon the loom, and by such rocking motion the bars C C will be caused to alternately approach and recede from each other in a vertical plane. This mechanism for operating the rocking bars 0 C is similar to that shown in the United States Patent No. 296,297, granted April 1, 1884, to Vernon Boyle and John Royle, J r.

D designates a number of lifting-wires, which, as here shown, are guided in the lower bar or grid 0, and which are hooked to engage the bars 0 0. Connected with these lifting-wires D are horizontally-arranged needles E, each of which usually has an eye receiving through it a wire,'as shown in Fig. 2, and which are arranged in guiding-plates E, as best shown in Fig. 10. Springs e are applied to these needles E, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to force them toward the rectangular cylinder F, which is formed with perforations in its face, and around which the chain of cards G passes, as shown in Fig. 8. This cylinder and its frame will be more particularly hereinafter described.

In order to support the needles E, I employ an upper needle-guiding frame B which is secured at one end to the hollow post or standard B and extends laterally therefrom, the said frame having no supports at its outeror opposite end. As here represented, the frame has at the end which is adjacent to the hollow post B an end plate I), in which are slots 0 and by means of bolts b passing through these slots the guiding-frame B is secured to the hollow post ]3. ion for accurately. adjusting the guiding frame ]3 as to height.

At opposite sides the The slots 12'' afford provisthese plates are secured by bolts 11 to the guiding-frame B The combination of vertical and horizontal slots lib provides for accurately adjusting the needle-guiding plates E to proper position. The base-piece A, which is best shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, is constructed with an opening 0", for the reception of the lifting-wires D, and with slots 0 for the reception of holding-down bolts. Around the opening 0 and also around the margin of the base-plate, is an upwardly-projecting lip or flange 0 which serves to catch any oil that may drop from the parts of the mechanism and prevent it from falling upon the goods in the loom beneath. The base-plate A also has lugs or projections of, which form the bearings for the rock-shaft F, on which the cylinder-frame is fulcrumed. This frame, as here represented, is composed 'of upright arms F which are fitted to the rock-shaft F, and which are connected by stretchers f f, between which extend upright bars or ribs f The stretcher f is inclined to the perpendicular, as shown best in Fig. 8, in order to properly direct to the front of the frame the chain of cards G, which moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8. The arms F of the cylinder-frame have at their upper ends bearings f f, for receiving the cylinder-journals. The bearing opens at the side and is closed by a pivoted latch f and the bearing f is of such construction that when the latch is lifted the cylinder may be swung outward at its free end and then withdrawn from the bearing f. The form of the bearing f is best shown in Fig. 2, and is not here claimed.

Upon one end of the rock-shaftFis a horizontally-extending arm F ,which has a shorter upwardly-projecting arm f, and this arm f G and a correspondingly shortarm f arranged side by side on the shaft F, as is shown in Fig. 1, are connected by a bolt f passing through slots f in the arms, as shown in Fig. 6. The bell-crank arm F is not secured fast to the rock-shaft; but the arm f is secured by a set-screw f to the rock-shaft, and the bolt-and-slot connection f f provides for setting the arm F in accurate relation to the cylinder-frame. The cylinder-frame is operated by a bifurcated or forked rod F (best shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6,) which is composed of two like members or halves cast from the same pattern and secured together by bolts f. Upon the upper rocking bar 0 is a stud or projection f, and said stud or projection and the end of the arm F together with the members of the rod F are constructed to form ball-and-socket or universal joints. The bifurcated or forked rod F straddles the shaft C and the mechanism for operating the bars 0 C, and by an upward and downward movement of the arm F, received from said rod F*, the cylinder is swung backward and forward to carry the cards G against the needles E and to remove them from the needles. By means of the arm f and a collar f on the rock-shaft F, as shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder-frame is prevented from lengthwise movement on said shaft; but said shaft may move in its bearings c for a short distance, thereby carrying with it-the cylinderframe and effecting the shifting of the cylinder F in the direction of its length.

The arms F of the cylinder-frame are not secured fast to the rock-shaft F but said rock-shaft has secured fast upon it an arm e, which is connected by a bolt 6 and a fiat or other spring c with the cylinder-frame, as best shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. The arm 6 bears against one side of the frame-stretcher f, and the spring a bears at its ends on the opposite side of lugs or ears 6 upon the frame. Consequently when the rock-shaft F is turned the arm 6 carries the frame in the direction of the arrow 0 in Fig. 8, with a yielding or elastic force due to the spring a and if the cylinder meets any unusual resistance the spring 6 will yield, permitting the arm 6 to move by cramping or deflectin g the spring, and when the resistance is removed the spring will exert a quick force upon the frame in the direction of the arrow to cause it to shift the needles E. In its return movement the arm 6 bears directly against the stretcher f, and the spring is idle.

e designates a hook which bears on the squared end portion of the cylinderF, and as the cylinder moves away from the needles the hook effects the turning of the cylinder. On the under side of the squared end portion 6 of the cylinder bears a keeper 6 which is upon the end of a bolt 6 actuated by a spring c and this keeper serves to limit the turning movement of the cylinder F and to hold it with its face in proper posit-ion for action. In some cases it is necessary to turn the cylinder F back by hand, and I have therefore represented the usual rod H and a hand-lever H, which is fulcrmed at h and returned by the spring h, as shown in Fig. 6, for this purpose. In order to change the pattern, I shift the cylinder lengthwise automatically, and in this example of my invention the shifting of the cylinder is accomplished by shifting the whole cylinder-frame and rock-shaft in the direction lengthwise of the cylinder and rock-shaft. On the rock-shaft F, I have shown a cam-wheel H having arms which, when the wheel is turned, engage cams h 72. upon the base-piece A, and which are best shown in Fig. 11. As the cam-wheel H is turned, its arms bear against the side of the inclined cams 7L2 ha, and these cams act to move the cam-wheel and the rock-shaft F, to which it is attached, in the direction of the axis.

I designates a lever which is fulcrumed loosely upon the rock-shaft, and which is constructed to serve as a handle at one end, and is pivoted at its opposite end to a rod or second lever I. This second lever I has a fulcrum-bearing 1" upon a stud projecting from the hollow column B, as shown in Fig. 2, but

ICC

, which has connected with it a needle E the operation of these parts will be best understood from Fig. 15.

By a spring 1 the levers I I are maintained in the position shown in Fig. 15, and the lever I carries a pawl j, which engages the tooth of a ratchet-wheel 7", which is formed with or secured to the cam-wheel H so as to turn as one piece therewith.

In connection with the several lifting-Wires, I employ a change-wire D, which I have shown at one end of the series-of'wires, and The wire D and the needle E correspond to the lifting-wires D and needles E; but instead of the wire D being connected with the portion of the loom-harness it is connected with the'lever I, as shown in Fig. 15, and an upward pull or lift upon the wire D will by lifting the levers I I cause the pawl j to turn the wheel 7" and the cam-wheel H and by the action'of the cam-wheel upon the stationary cam orcams 72 71 the rock-shaft F and the cylinder-frame and the cylinder F supported therein will be moved-automatically in the direction of the length of the cylinder.

In order to limit the turning movement of the cam-wheel H and hold it in proper position after turning, I have representedakeeper J, which is shown in Fig. 16. This consists of a flat bar or piece bearing at one end j upon the base piece or bed A, and supported at the other end by a spring 3' and owing to the spring this keeper J exerts an upward pressure against a toothed wheelj, which is secured upon the rock-shaft F or to the cam- I wheel H In order to provide for proper adjustment to shift the cylinder-frame lengthwise, I have shown the change-wire D in Fig. 5 as provided with a turnbuckle or right and left hand threaded nut j, whereby its length may be accurately adjusted.

In Figs. 18 and 19 I have shown a camwheel having eight arms, which are arranged at equal points in its circumference and in parallel planes side by side, and this construction of cam-wheel is adapted to operate in connectionwith cams 72, W, as shown in Fig. 20. The cam-wheel H (shown in Fig. 21) also has eight arms arranged in parallel planes, which are, however, more separated from each other than the planes of the arms shown in' Figs. 18 and 19, and this construction of cam-wheel (shown in Fig. 21) is adapted for use in connection with a single cam 7L2, such as is shown in Fig. 22, andwhich is tapered upon opposite sides.

It will be observed that when the cylinder is shifted lengthwise automatically it does not shift lengthwise in its frame, but the frame is directly shifted, and therefore the cylinder is shifted through its frame, and is, in fact, the thing which it is desired to shift, as the shifting of the cylinder-frame serves no other purpose.

In mechanism of this character, which it is desired to have as compact as possible, it

is an advantage to have the upper guidingframe B supported at one end only and free or unsupported at the other end, so as to atford a clear space for other. parts between it and the base-plate.

In connection with that part of my invention which involves knives or rocking bars having fulcrum-holes at different points in their length, I am aware that in other machinery with rod-and-lever connections the rods have been adjustable in slots in the levers or from hole to hole along their length, and I do not include such construction in my invention. In the case of the rocking bars the fulcrum-holes are each gaged to produce a different and definite length of swinging movement with the same length of stroke of the power device which operates them.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. The combination, with the lifting-wires and needles, the rocking bars, the cylinder and cylinder-frame, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operating the said parts, of a frame consisting of a base-platevA, having lugs or ears 0 for supporting the cylinder-frame fulcrum, and having an opening for the lifting-wires and a raised rim around its margin and said opening, an upright or I standard, and an upper guiding-frame for the needles secured at its one end only to the upright or standard, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination, with the lifting-wires, the needles, the rocking bars, and the cylin- 1 der, of a cylinder-frame having upright arms 1 fulcrumed at the one end and connected by a stretcher or brace which is inclined to the perpendicular in order to properly direct the cards, and operating mechanism for the several parts, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination, with the lifting-wires and needles and the rocking bars, of the cylinder and the cylinder-frame having a rocking shaft which constitutes a fulcrum on which the frame may rock, and which is provided with a rigid arm having a bearing against the frame to move it in one direction, mechanism, substantially as described, for operating the several parts, and a spring interposed between said rigid arm and the cylinder-frame, and through which the arm moves the frame in the other direction, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The combination, with the lifting-wires, the needles, the rocking bars, the cylinder, and the cylinder-frame having an arm extending from its fulcrum, of mechanism, substantially as described, for operating the rockingbars, and the rod F composed of two similar halves or sections connecting the upper bar with the arm on the cylinder-frame fulcrum, substantially as herein described.

5. The combination, with needles, of lifting-wires, rocking bars for actuating the lifting-wires, a cylinder for operating the needles, a support on which said cylinder is mounted and with which it may receive longitudinal movement, mechanism, substantially such as described, for operating the several parts, a change-wire and needle corresponding to the lifting-wires and needles, a cam for effecting the lengthwise movement of the cylinder and its support, cam-surfaces against which said cam acts, and a connection between the change-wire and the cam, whereby the latter is rotated by the movement of the change-wire, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of the lifting-wires and needles, the rocking bars, the cylinderframe, the cylinder held against lengthwise movement in the frame, bearings which permit of the movement of the frame in a direction lengthwise of the cylinder, mechanism, such as described, for operating said parts, a change-wire and needle corresponding to the lifting-Wires and needles, a cam for effecting the lengthwise movement of the frame, camsnrfaces against which said cam acts, and a connection between the change-wire and the cam, whereby the latter is rotated by the movement of the change-wire, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with the lifting-wires and the needles, the rocking bars, the cylinder and cylinder-frame and bearings which permit the lengthwise movement of said frame, and mechanism for operating the several parts, of a change-wire and needle corresponding to the lifting-wires and needles, a cam-wheel movable lengthwise of its axis with the frame, a lever upon which said change-wire acts, a clutch operated by said lever to impart motion to said cam-Wheel, and a stationary cam with which said cam-wheel en gages when turned, and whereby the frame is moved lel'igthwise, substantially as herein set forth.

8. The combination, with the lifting-Wires and needles, the rocking bars, the cylinder and cylinder-frame, a shaft on which the said frame is fulcrumed, bearings which permit the lengthwise movement of said shaft and frame, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operating the several parts, of the change-wire and needle D E, the camwheel and ratchet-wheel H j on said shaft, the lever I and its pawl j, and the stationary cam or cams with which the cam-wheel engages as it is turned, substantially as herein set forth.

VERNON ROYLE.

Witnesses:

C. HALL, FREDK. HAYNES. 

